asked the Minister for Health whether he has seen a document entitled Labour Party Policy on the Health Services; and whether he is in a position to make an estimate of the cost of giving effect to the proposals outlined in it.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Labour Party Health Proposals.
9.
I have seen the document in question. The cost of providing for an extension of services as outlined therein would be very considerable. In reply to a question in the House on 28 May, 1963 (Dáil Debates, Volume 203, column 202) I gave an estimate of the cost of providing a "free-for-all" health service, such as is now envisaged in the Labour Party document. On costings for the coming financial year, I would now estimate that the total annual cost of such a service, excluding capital expenditure, would be of the order of £44 million, representing an increase of about £15 million on the cost of the present health services.
That ought to satisfy the Right Honourable gentleman for the Kingstown Bible belt.
That ought to satisfy the multi-millionaires for whom the Labour Party are catering.
Would the Minister for Health tell us, since he knows so much about improved health services, why he was not able to do anything about the Select Committee on the Health Services?
The Deputy had better put that another way: what the Labour Party did on the Committee.
Is it not correct that the Minister for Health was ashamed to call any meeting of the Committee since last May because he was not prepared to do anything about it?
The Select Committee will come up for discussion in the Dáil at a later date.
It would be a new thing if it did.
It is an inspired question.
The trouble about the Labour Party is they think talk is an adequate substitute for thought.